Publication date: Available online 31 December 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Stephen V. David
For several decades, auditory neuroscientists have used spectro-temporal encoding models to understand how neurons in the auditory system represent sound. Derived from early applications of systems identification tools to the auditory periphery, the spectro-temporal receptive field (STRF) and more sophisticated variants have emerged as an efficient means of characterizing representation throughout the auditory system. Most of these encoding models describe neurons as static sensory filters. However, auditory neural coding is not static. Sensory context, reflecting the acoustic environment, and behavioral context, reflecting the internal state of the listener, can both influence sound-evoked activity, particularly in central auditory areas. This review explores recent efforts to integrate context into spectro-temporal encoding models. It begins with a brief tutorial on the basics of estimating and interpreting STRFs. Then it describes three recent studies that have characterized contextual effects on STRFs, emerging over a range of timescales, from many minutes to tens of milliseconds. An important theme of this work is not simply that context influences auditory coding, but also that contextual effects span a large continuum of internal states. The added complexity of these context-dependent models introduces new experimental and theoretical challenges that must be addressed in order to be used effectively. Several new methodological advances promise to address these limitations and allow the development of more comprehensive context-dependent models in the future.
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Κυριακή 31 Δεκεμβρίου 2017
Incorporating behavioral and sensory context into spectro-temporal models of auditory encoding
Publication date: Available online 31 December 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Stephen V. David
For several decades, auditory neuroscientists have used spectro-temporal encoding models to understand how neurons in the auditory system represent sound. Derived from early applications of systems identification tools to the auditory periphery, the spectro-temporal receptive field (STRF) and more sophisticated variants have emerged as an efficient means of characterizing representation throughout the auditory system. Most of these encoding models describe neurons as static sensory filters. However, auditory neural coding is not static. Sensory context, reflecting the acoustic environment, and behavioral context, reflecting the internal state of the listener, can both influence sound-evoked activity, particularly in central auditory areas. This review explores recent efforts to integrate context into spectro-temporal encoding models. It begins with a brief tutorial on the basics of estimating and interpreting STRFs. Then it describes three recent studies that have characterized contextual effects on STRFs, emerging over a range of timescales, from many minutes to tens of milliseconds. An important theme of this work is not simply that context influences auditory coding, but also that contextual effects span a large continuum of internal states. The added complexity of these context-dependent models introduces new experimental and theoretical challenges that must be addressed in order to be used effectively. Several new methodological advances promise to address these limitations and allow the development of more comprehensive context-dependent models in the future.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Stephen V. David
For several decades, auditory neuroscientists have used spectro-temporal encoding models to understand how neurons in the auditory system represent sound. Derived from early applications of systems identification tools to the auditory periphery, the spectro-temporal receptive field (STRF) and more sophisticated variants have emerged as an efficient means of characterizing representation throughout the auditory system. Most of these encoding models describe neurons as static sensory filters. However, auditory neural coding is not static. Sensory context, reflecting the acoustic environment, and behavioral context, reflecting the internal state of the listener, can both influence sound-evoked activity, particularly in central auditory areas. This review explores recent efforts to integrate context into spectro-temporal encoding models. It begins with a brief tutorial on the basics of estimating and interpreting STRFs. Then it describes three recent studies that have characterized contextual effects on STRFs, emerging over a range of timescales, from many minutes to tens of milliseconds. An important theme of this work is not simply that context influences auditory coding, but also that contextual effects span a large continuum of internal states. The added complexity of these context-dependent models introduces new experimental and theoretical challenges that must be addressed in order to be used effectively. Several new methodological advances promise to address these limitations and allow the development of more comprehensive context-dependent models in the future.
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Surface EMG patterns for quantification of thigh muscle co-contraction in school-age children: Normative data during walking
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Francesco Di Nardo, Annachiara Strazza, Alessandro Mengarelli, Serena Ercolani, Nicole Morgoni, Laura Burattini, Valentina Agostini, Marco Knaflitz, Sandro Fioretti
Muscle co-contractions are particularly relevant in analyzing children pathologies. To interpret surface electromyography (sEMG) in pathological conditions, reliable normative data in non-pathological children are required for direct comparison. Aim of the study was the quantification of co-contraction activity between quadriceps femoris (QF) and hamstring muscles during walking in healthy children. To this aim, Statistical gait analysis was performed on sEMG signals from rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and lateral hamstrings (LH), in 16401 strides walked by 100 healthy school-age children. Co-contractions were assessed as overlapping period between activation intervals of considered muscles. Results showed full superimpositions of LH with both RF and VL activity from terminal swing, 80–100% of gait cycle, to successive loading response (0–15% of gait cycle), in around 90% of strides, as reported in adults. This indicates that children regularly use a cocontraction activity between QF and hamstring muscles in weight acceptance during walking, supporting the hypothesis of a regulatory role of co-contraction in providing knee joint stability. Concomitant activity of QF and hamstring muscles was detected also during push-off phase (30–50% of gait cycle), showing a large variability intra and inter subjects and a lower occurrence frequency (around 25% of strides). This could be intended for controlling rapid knee flexion and/or stabilizing pelvis during body progression. Present findings represent the first attempt to provide normative sEMG dataset on variability of QF and hamstring muscles co-contractions during child walking, useful for discriminating physiological and pathological behavior and for designing future studies on maturation of gait.
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Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Francesco Di Nardo, Annachiara Strazza, Alessandro Mengarelli, Serena Ercolani, Nicole Morgoni, Laura Burattini, Valentina Agostini, Marco Knaflitz, Sandro Fioretti
Muscle co-contractions are particularly relevant in analyzing children pathologies. To interpret surface electromyography (sEMG) in pathological conditions, reliable normative data in non-pathological children are required for direct comparison. Aim of the study was the quantification of co-contraction activity between quadriceps femoris (QF) and hamstring muscles during walking in healthy children. To this aim, Statistical gait analysis was performed on sEMG signals from rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and lateral hamstrings (LH), in 16401 strides walked by 100 healthy school-age children. Co-contractions were assessed as overlapping period between activation intervals of considered muscles. Results showed full superimpositions of LH with both RF and VL activity from terminal swing, 80–100% of gait cycle, to successive loading response (0–15% of gait cycle), in around 90% of strides, as reported in adults. This indicates that children regularly use a cocontraction activity between QF and hamstring muscles in weight acceptance during walking, supporting the hypothesis of a regulatory role of co-contraction in providing knee joint stability. Concomitant activity of QF and hamstring muscles was detected also during push-off phase (30–50% of gait cycle), showing a large variability intra and inter subjects and a lower occurrence frequency (around 25% of strides). This could be intended for controlling rapid knee flexion and/or stabilizing pelvis during body progression. Present findings represent the first attempt to provide normative sEMG dataset on variability of QF and hamstring muscles co-contractions during child walking, useful for discriminating physiological and pathological behavior and for designing future studies on maturation of gait.
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Surface EMG patterns for quantification of thigh muscle co-contraction in school-age children: Normative data during walking
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Francesco Di Nardo, Annachiara Strazza, Alessandro Mengarelli, Serena Ercolani, Nicole Morgoni, Laura Burattini, Valentina Agostini, Marco Knaflitz, Sandro Fioretti
Muscle co-contractions are particularly relevant in analyzing children pathologies. To interpret surface electromyography (sEMG) in pathological conditions, reliable normative data in non-pathological children are required for direct comparison. Aim of the study was the quantification of co-contraction activity between quadriceps femoris (QF) and hamstring muscles during walking in healthy children. To this aim, Statistical gait analysis was performed on sEMG signals from rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and lateral hamstrings (LH), in 16401 strides walked by 100 healthy school-age children. Co-contractions were assessed as overlapping period between activation intervals of considered muscles. Results showed full superimpositions of LH with both RF and VL activity from terminal swing, 80–100% of gait cycle, to successive loading response (0–15% of gait cycle), in around 90% of strides, as reported in adults. This indicates that children regularly use a cocontraction activity between QF and hamstring muscles in weight acceptance during walking, supporting the hypothesis of a regulatory role of co-contraction in providing knee joint stability. Concomitant activity of QF and hamstring muscles was detected also during push-off phase (30–50% of gait cycle), showing a large variability intra and inter subjects and a lower occurrence frequency (around 25% of strides). This could be intended for controlling rapid knee flexion and/or stabilizing pelvis during body progression. Present findings represent the first attempt to provide normative sEMG dataset on variability of QF and hamstring muscles co-contractions during child walking, useful for discriminating physiological and pathological behavior and for designing future studies on maturation of gait.
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Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Francesco Di Nardo, Annachiara Strazza, Alessandro Mengarelli, Serena Ercolani, Nicole Morgoni, Laura Burattini, Valentina Agostini, Marco Knaflitz, Sandro Fioretti
Muscle co-contractions are particularly relevant in analyzing children pathologies. To interpret surface electromyography (sEMG) in pathological conditions, reliable normative data in non-pathological children are required for direct comparison. Aim of the study was the quantification of co-contraction activity between quadriceps femoris (QF) and hamstring muscles during walking in healthy children. To this aim, Statistical gait analysis was performed on sEMG signals from rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and lateral hamstrings (LH), in 16401 strides walked by 100 healthy school-age children. Co-contractions were assessed as overlapping period between activation intervals of considered muscles. Results showed full superimpositions of LH with both RF and VL activity from terminal swing, 80–100% of gait cycle, to successive loading response (0–15% of gait cycle), in around 90% of strides, as reported in adults. This indicates that children regularly use a cocontraction activity between QF and hamstring muscles in weight acceptance during walking, supporting the hypothesis of a regulatory role of co-contraction in providing knee joint stability. Concomitant activity of QF and hamstring muscles was detected also during push-off phase (30–50% of gait cycle), showing a large variability intra and inter subjects and a lower occurrence frequency (around 25% of strides). This could be intended for controlling rapid knee flexion and/or stabilizing pelvis during body progression. Present findings represent the first attempt to provide normative sEMG dataset on variability of QF and hamstring muscles co-contractions during child walking, useful for discriminating physiological and pathological behavior and for designing future studies on maturation of gait.
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Surface EMG patterns for quantification of thigh muscle co-contraction in school-age children: Normative data during walking
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Francesco Di Nardo, Annachiara Strazza, Alessandro Mengarelli, Serena Ercolani, Nicole Morgoni, Laura Burattini, Valentina Agostini, Marco Knaflitz, Sandro Fioretti
Muscle co-contractions are particularly relevant in analyzing children pathologies. To interpret surface electromyography (sEMG) in pathological conditions, reliable normative data in non-pathological children are required for direct comparison. Aim of the study was the quantification of co-contraction activity between quadriceps femoris (QF) and hamstring muscles during walking in healthy children. To this aim, Statistical gait analysis was performed on sEMG signals from rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and lateral hamstrings (LH), in 16401 strides walked by 100 healthy school-age children. Co-contractions were assessed as overlapping period between activation intervals of considered muscles. Results showed full superimpositions of LH with both RF and VL activity from terminal swing, 80–100% of gait cycle, to successive loading response (0–15% of gait cycle), in around 90% of strides, as reported in adults. This indicates that children regularly use a cocontraction activity between QF and hamstring muscles in weight acceptance during walking, supporting the hypothesis of a regulatory role of co-contraction in providing knee joint stability. Concomitant activity of QF and hamstring muscles was detected also during push-off phase (30–50% of gait cycle), showing a large variability intra and inter subjects and a lower occurrence frequency (around 25% of strides). This could be intended for controlling rapid knee flexion and/or stabilizing pelvis during body progression. Present findings represent the first attempt to provide normative sEMG dataset on variability of QF and hamstring muscles co-contractions during child walking, useful for discriminating physiological and pathological behavior and for designing future studies on maturation of gait.
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Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Francesco Di Nardo, Annachiara Strazza, Alessandro Mengarelli, Serena Ercolani, Nicole Morgoni, Laura Burattini, Valentina Agostini, Marco Knaflitz, Sandro Fioretti
Muscle co-contractions are particularly relevant in analyzing children pathologies. To interpret surface electromyography (sEMG) in pathological conditions, reliable normative data in non-pathological children are required for direct comparison. Aim of the study was the quantification of co-contraction activity between quadriceps femoris (QF) and hamstring muscles during walking in healthy children. To this aim, Statistical gait analysis was performed on sEMG signals from rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and lateral hamstrings (LH), in 16401 strides walked by 100 healthy school-age children. Co-contractions were assessed as overlapping period between activation intervals of considered muscles. Results showed full superimpositions of LH with both RF and VL activity from terminal swing, 80–100% of gait cycle, to successive loading response (0–15% of gait cycle), in around 90% of strides, as reported in adults. This indicates that children regularly use a cocontraction activity between QF and hamstring muscles in weight acceptance during walking, supporting the hypothesis of a regulatory role of co-contraction in providing knee joint stability. Concomitant activity of QF and hamstring muscles was detected also during push-off phase (30–50% of gait cycle), showing a large variability intra and inter subjects and a lower occurrence frequency (around 25% of strides). This could be intended for controlling rapid knee flexion and/or stabilizing pelvis during body progression. Present findings represent the first attempt to provide normative sEMG dataset on variability of QF and hamstring muscles co-contractions during child walking, useful for discriminating physiological and pathological behavior and for designing future studies on maturation of gait.
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A novel pathogenic variant c.975G>A (p.Trp325*) in the POU3F4 gene in Yakut family (Eastern Siberia, Russia) with the X-linked deafness-2 (DFNX2).
| Related Articles |
A novel pathogenic variant c.975G>A (p.Trp325*) in the POU3F4 gene in Yakut family (Eastern Siberia, Russia) with the X-linked deafness-2 (DFNX2).
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Jan;104:94-97
Authors: Barashkov NA, Klarov LA, Teryutin FM, Solovyev AV, Pshennikova VG, Konnikova EE, Romanov GP, Tobokhov AV, Morozov IV, Bondar AA, Posukh OL, Dzhemileva LU, Tomsky MI, Khusnutdinova EK, Fedorova SA
Abstract
Here, we report a novel hemizygous transition c.975G>A (p.Trp325*) in POU3F4 gene (Xq21) found in two deaf half-brothers from one Yakut family (Eastern Siberia, Russia) with identical inner ear abnormalities ("corkscrew" cochlea with an absence of modiolus) specific to X-linked deafness-2 (DFNX2). Comprehensive clinical evaluation (CT and MR-imaging, audiological and stabilometric examinations) of available members of this family revealed both already known (mixed progressive hearing loss) and additional (enlargement of semicircular canals and postural disorders) clinical DFNX2 features in affected males with c.975G>A (p.Trp325*). Moreover, mild enlargement of semicircular canals, postural abnormalities and different types of hearing thresholds were found in female carrier of this POU3F4-variant.
PMID: 29287890 [PubMed - in process]
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A novel mutation of the EYA4 gene associated with post-lingual hearing loss in a proband is co-segregating with a novel PAX3 mutation in two congenitally deaf family members.
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A novel mutation of the EYA4 gene associated with post-lingual hearing loss in a proband is co-segregating with a novel PAX3 mutation in two congenitally deaf family members.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Jan;104:88-93
Authors: Cesca F, Bettella E, Polli R, Cama E, Scimemi P, Santarelli R, Murgia A
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This work was aimed at establishing the molecular etiology of hearing loss in a 9-year old girl with post-lingual non-syndromic mild sensorineural hearing loss with a complex family history of clinically heterogeneous deafness.
METHODS: The proband's DNA was subjected to NGS analysis of a 59-targeted gene panel, with the use of the Ion Torrent PGM platform. Conventional Sanger sequencing was used for segregation analysis in all the affected relatives. The proband and all the other hearing impaired members of the family underwent a thorough clinical and audiological evaluation.
RESULTS: A new likely pathogenic mutation in the EYA4 gene (c.1154C > T; p.Ser385Leu) was identified in the proband and in her 42-year-old father with post-lingual non-syndromic profound sensorineural hearing loss. The EYA4 mutation was also found in the proband's grandfather and uncle, both showing clinical features of Waardenburg syndrome type 1. A novel pathogenic splice-site mutation (c.321+1G > A) of the PAX3 gene was found to co-segregate with the EYA4 mutation in these two subjects.
CONCLUSION: The identified novel EYA4 mutation can be considered responsible of the hearing loss observed in the proband and her father, while a dual molecular diagnosis was reached in the relatives co-segregating the EYA4 and the PAX3 mutations. In these two subjects the DFNA10 phenotype was masked by Waardenburg syndrome. The use of NGS targeted gene-panel, in combination with an extensive clinical and audiological examination led us to identify the genetic cause of the hearing loss in members of a family in which different forms of autosomal dominant deafness segregate. These results provide precise and especially important prognostic and follow-up information for the future audiologic management in the youngest affected member.
PMID: 29287889 [PubMed - in process]
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A novel splicing mutation in SMPX is linked to nonsyndromic progressive hearing loss.
| Related Articles |
A novel splicing mutation in SMPX is linked to nonsyndromic progressive hearing loss.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Jan;104:47-50
Authors: Niu Z, Yan D, Bressler S, Mei L, Feng Y, Liu X
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: X-linked nonsyndromic hearing impairment is the rarest form of genetic hearing loss and represents only a minor fraction of all cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the cause of X-linked nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in a three-generation American family.
METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing and co-segregation analysis were used to identify disease-causing genes.
RESULTS: In this study, we described in detail the clinical characteristics of the family and identified a novel frameshift mutation creating a premature stop codon (c.133-1 G > A, p.(Gly45fs*36)) of SMPX. The loss-of-function mutation was co-segregated with the progressive hearing loss phenotype and was absent in 200 normal controls.
CONCLUSIONS: We report the first SMPX (DFNX4) mutation in a North American family. Our findings contribute to the existing genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of SMPX associated hearing loss. Furthermore, our data suggest that exome sequencing is promising in the genetic diagnosis of hearing loss.
PMID: 29287879 [PubMed - in process]
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Germinal mosaicism of PAX3 mutation caused Waardenburg syndrome type I.
| Related Articles |
Germinal mosaicism of PAX3 mutation caused Waardenburg syndrome type I.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Jan;104:200-204
Authors: Chen K, Zhan Y, Wu X, Zong L, Jiang H
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Waardenburg syndrome mutations are most often recurrent or de novo. The rate of familial recurrence is low and families with several affected children are extremely rare. In this study, we aimed to clarify the underlying hereditary cause of Waardenburg syndrome type I in two siblings in a Chinese family, with a mother affected by prelingual mild hearing loss and a father who was negative for clinical symptoms of Waardenburg syndrome and had a normal hearing threshold.
METHODS: Complete characteristic features of the family members were recorded and genetic sequencing and parent-child relationship analyses were performed.
RESULTS: The two probands were found to share double mutations in the PAX3/GJB2 genes that caused concurrent hearing loss in Waardenburg syndrome type I. Their mother carried the GJB2 c.109G > A homozygous mutation; however, neither the novel PAX3 c.592delG mutation, nor the Waardenburg syndrome phenotype, was observed in either parent.
CONCLUSION: These previously unreported digenic mutations in PAX3/GJB2 resulted in deafness associated with Waardenburg syndrome type I in this family. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing germinal mosaicism in Waardenburg syndrome. This concept is important because it complicates genetic counseling of this family regarding the risk of recurrence of the mutations in subsequent pregnancies.
PMID: 29287868 [PubMed - in process]
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SLC52A2 mutations cause SCABD2 phenotype: A second report.
| Related Articles |
SLC52A2 mutations cause SCABD2 phenotype: A second report.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Jan;104:195-199
Authors: Babanejad M, Adeli OA, Nikzat N, Beheshtian M, Azarafra H, Sadeghnia F, Mohseni M, Najmabadi H, Kahrizi K
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs) are a large group of neurodegenerative disorders that manifest mainly in children and young adults. Most ARCAs are heterogeneous with respect to age at onset, severity of disease progression, and frequency of extracerebellar and systemic signs.
METHODS: The phenotype of a consanguineous Iranian family was characterized using clinical testing and pedigree analysis. Whole-exome sequencing was used to identify the disease-causing gene in this family.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Using whole exome sequencing (WES), a novel missense mutation in SLC52A2 gene is reported in a consanguineous Iranian family with progressive severe hearing loss, optic atrophy and ataxia. This is the second report of the genotype-phenotype correlation between this syndrome named spinocerebellar ataxia with blindness and deafness type 2 (SCABD2) and SLC52A2 gene.
PMID: 29287867 [PubMed - in process]
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A novel variant in the CDH23 gene is associated with non-syndromic hearing loss in a Chinese family.
| Related Articles |
A novel variant in the CDH23 gene is associated with non-syndromic hearing loss in a Chinese family.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Jan;104:108-112
Authors: Liang Y, Wang K, Peng Q, Zhu P, Wu C, Rao C, Chang J, Li S, Lu X
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore the pathogenic causes of a proband who was diagnosed with non-syndromic hearing loss.
METHODS: We performed targeted capture of 159 known deafness-related genes and next-generation sequencing in the proband who was tested negative for the twenty hotspot variants in four common deafness-related genes(GJB2, GJB3, SLC26A4 and MTRNR1); Clinical reassessments, including detailed audiological and ocular examinations were performed in the proband and his normal parents.
RESULTS: We identified a novel heterozygous variant of CDH23:c.4567A > G (p.Asn1523Asp) in exon 37 (NM_022124), in conjunction with a reported mutation of CDH23:c.5101G > A (p.Glu1701Lys) in exon 40, to be a potentially pathogenic compound heterozygosity in the proband. The unaffected father has a heterozygous variant of CDH23:c.4567A > G, and the normal mother has another heterozygous variant, CDH23:c.5101G > A. The novel variant was absent in the 1000 Genomes Project. The clinical reassessments revealed binaural profound sensorineural hearing loss (DFNB12) without retinitis pigmentosa in the proband.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the novel variant c.4567A > G (p.Asn1523Asp) in compound heterozygosity with c.5101G > A (p. Glu1701Lys) in the CDH23 gene is the main cause of DFNB12 in the proband. Simultaneously, this study provides a foundation to further elucidate the CDH23-related mechanisms of DFNB12.
PMID: 29287849 [PubMed - in process]
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Σάββατο 30 Δεκεμβρίου 2017
MED-EL Announces Winners of Its Ideas4Ears Competition
MED-EL (http://ift.tt/1pfpn1t) has announced the winners of its global Ideas4Ears children's invention contest. Parker Welsh from Ozawkie, KS, won the grand prize with his entry involving inserting regenerative cells from salamanders, which are responsible for tissue repair and regeneration, into human macrophages. Welsh won a $1,000 college scholarship and a trip for two to MED-EL's international headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria. The Ideas4Ears competition challenged children to create a piece of artwork showcasing their invention to improve the quality of life for people living with hearing loss. More than 240 entries were received from around the world, and winners were selected from seven countries, including the United States, Austria, Brazil, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Avery Bennett from Chicago, IL, was awarded the finalist prize.
Published: 12/30/2017 5:23:00 PM
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MED-EL Announces Winners of Its Ideas4Ears Competition
MED-EL (http://ift.tt/1pfpn1t) has announced the winners of its global Ideas4Ears children's invention contest. Parker Welsh from Ozawkie, KS, won the grand prize with his entry involving inserting regenerative cells from salamanders, which are responsible for tissue repair and regeneration, into human macrophages. Welsh won a $1,000 college scholarship and a trip for two to MED-EL's international headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria. The Ideas4Ears competition challenged children to create a piece of artwork showcasing their invention to improve the quality of life for people living with hearing loss. More than 240 entries were received from around the world, and winners were selected from seven countries, including the United States, Austria, Brazil, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Avery Bennett from Chicago, IL, was awarded the finalist prize.
Published: 12/30/2017 5:23:00 PM
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MED-EL Announces Winners of Its Ideas4Ears Competition
MED-EL (http://ift.tt/1pfpn1t) has announced the winners of its global Ideas4Ears children's invention contest. Parker Welsh from Ozawkie, KS, won the grand prize with his entry involving inserting regenerative cells from salamanders, which are responsible for tissue repair and regeneration, into human macrophages. Welsh won a $1,000 college scholarship and a trip for two to MED-EL's international headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria. The Ideas4Ears competition challenged children to create a piece of artwork showcasing their invention to improve the quality of life for people living with hearing loss. More than 240 entries were received from around the world, and winners were selected from seven countries, including the United States, Austria, Brazil, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Avery Bennett from Chicago, IL, was awarded the finalist prize.
Published: 12/30/2017 5:23:00 PM
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Correlations Between the Degree of Endolymphatic Hydrops and Symptoms and Audiological Test Results in Patients With Menière's Disease: A Reevaluation.
| Related Articles |
Correlations Between the Degree of Endolymphatic Hydrops and Symptoms and Audiological Test Results in Patients With Menière's Disease: A Reevaluation.
Otol Neurotol. 2017 Dec 28;:
Authors: Yang S, Zhu H, Zhu B, Wang H, Chen Z, Wu Y, Chen B, Shi H, Li Y, Zou J, Yin S
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to reevaluate the diagnostic significance of clinically well-accepted audiological tests in indicating endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in Menière's disease (MD).
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review.
SETTINGS: Hospital.
PATIENTS: Fifty patients (52 affected ears) diagnosed with MD were enrolled.
INTERVENTION: Diagnostic.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: To analyze the correlations between endolymphatic hydrops and results of audiological test including the pure-tone audiometry threshold, suprathreshold function tests, electrocochleogram, and glycerol test.
RESULTS: Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated EH in either the vestibule or cochlea to various degrees in all of the MD patients, 24 hours after intratympanic gadolinium chelate injection. Both vestibular and cochlear EH were significantly correlated with PTA threshold. However, EH was not associated with alternate binaural loudness balance or the tone decay test, although a correlation was observed with the short-increment sensitivity index. There was also a correlation between vestibular EH, but not cochlear EH, and the negative summating potential/action potential (-SP/AP) ratio. Neither vestibular EH nor cochlear EH was correlated with the glycerol test results. In addition, the frequency of vertigo attacks, the existence of tinnitus, and aural fullness did not correlate with EH.
CONCLUSIONS: Disrupted ionic homeostasis in the inner ear, but not the EH, may contribute to changes in the -SP/AP ratio. The relevance of glycerol test in identifying EH through detection of hearing changes needs further investigation in the future.
PMID: 29287037 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Correlations Between the Degree of Endolymphatic Hydrops and Symptoms and Audiological Test Results in Patients With Menière's Disease: A Reevaluation.
| Related Articles |
Correlations Between the Degree of Endolymphatic Hydrops and Symptoms and Audiological Test Results in Patients With Menière's Disease: A Reevaluation.
Otol Neurotol. 2017 Dec 28;:
Authors: Yang S, Zhu H, Zhu B, Wang H, Chen Z, Wu Y, Chen B, Shi H, Li Y, Zou J, Yin S
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to reevaluate the diagnostic significance of clinically well-accepted audiological tests in indicating endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in Menière's disease (MD).
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review.
SETTINGS: Hospital.
PATIENTS: Fifty patients (52 affected ears) diagnosed with MD were enrolled.
INTERVENTION: Diagnostic.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: To analyze the correlations between endolymphatic hydrops and results of audiological test including the pure-tone audiometry threshold, suprathreshold function tests, electrocochleogram, and glycerol test.
RESULTS: Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated EH in either the vestibule or cochlea to various degrees in all of the MD patients, 24 hours after intratympanic gadolinium chelate injection. Both vestibular and cochlear EH were significantly correlated with PTA threshold. However, EH was not associated with alternate binaural loudness balance or the tone decay test, although a correlation was observed with the short-increment sensitivity index. There was also a correlation between vestibular EH, but not cochlear EH, and the negative summating potential/action potential (-SP/AP) ratio. Neither vestibular EH nor cochlear EH was correlated with the glycerol test results. In addition, the frequency of vertigo attacks, the existence of tinnitus, and aural fullness did not correlate with EH.
CONCLUSIONS: Disrupted ionic homeostasis in the inner ear, but not the EH, may contribute to changes in the -SP/AP ratio. The relevance of glycerol test in identifying EH through detection of hearing changes needs further investigation in the future.
PMID: 29287037 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Παρασκευή 29 Δεκεμβρίου 2017
Machine Guns Underwater
Imagine you are on a fishing trip on the Colorado River Delta where the river flows into the Sea of Cortez by Baja California. You spot a section of water that seems to be churned up and muddy, almost muddy like someone was mixing cocoa powder to make hot chocolate. You get a bit closer, and all of a sudden you instinctively duck under the nearest deck chair. It sounds like someone is firing a machine gun at you. But the sound does not stop and only keeps getting louder.
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Association between community noise and adiposity in patients with cardiovascular disease
Noise and Health 2017 19(91):270-277
Introduction: This study aimed to explore the effect of community noise on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Materials and Methods: A representative sample of 132 patients from three tertiary hospitals in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria was collected. Anthropometric measurements were linked to global noise annoyance (GNA) based on different residential noise annoyances, day–evening–night (Lden), and nighttime (Lnight) road traffic noise exposure. Noise map Lden and Lnight were determined at the living room and bedroom façades, respectively, and further corrected to indoor exposure based on the window-opening frequency and soundproofing insulation. Results and Discussion: Results showed that BMI and WC increased (non-significantly) per 5 dB. The effect of indoor noise was stronger in comparison with that of outdoor noise. For indoor Lden, the effect was more pronounced in men, those with diabetes, family history of diabetes, high noise sensitivity, using solid fuel/gas for domestic heating/cooking, and living on the first floor. As regards indoor Lnight, its effect was more pronounced in those with low socioeconomic status, hearing loss, and using solid fuel/gas for domestic heating/cooking. GNA was associated with lower BMI and WC. Conclusion: Road traffic noise was associated with an increase in adiposity in some potentially vulnerable patients with CVD.
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Cognitive function predicts listening effort performance during complex tasks in normally aging adults
Noise and Health 2017 19(91):254-262
Purpose: This study examines whether cognitive function, as measured by the subtests of the Woodcock–Johnson III (WCJ-III) assessment, predicts listening-effort performance during dual tasks across the adults of varying ages. Materials and Methods: Participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 14 listeners (number of females = 11) who were 41–61 years old [mean = 53.18; standard deviation (SD) = 5.97]. Group 2 consisted of 15 listeners (number of females = 9) who were 63–81 years old (mean = 72.07; SD = 5.11). Participants were administered the WCJ-III Memory for Words, Auditory Working Memory, Visual Matching, and Decision Speed subtests. All participants were tested in each of the following three dual-task experimental conditions, which were varying in complexity: (1) auditory word recognition + visual processing, (2) auditory working memory (word) + visual processing, and (3) auditory working memory (sentence) + visual processing in noise. Results: A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that task complexity significantly affected the performance measures of auditory accuracy, visual accuracy, and processing speed. Linear regression revealed that the cognitive subtests of the WCJ-III test significantly predicted performance across dependent variable measures. Conclusion: Listening effort is significantly affected by task complexity, regardless of age. Performance on the WCJ-III test may predict listening effort in adults and may assist speech-language pathologist (SLPs) to understand challenges faced by participants when subjected to noise.
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Cardiovascular risk factors in noise-exposed workers in china: Small area study
Noise and Health 2017 19(91):245-253
Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether there are changes in cardiovascular risk factors among noise-exposed workers and to explore the possible mechanisms of a long-term noise exposure leading to cardiovascular disease and the sex differences of cardiovascular risk factors in this population. Materials and Methods: Two hundred workers engaged in noise-related work, and a control group of 200 nonnoise-exposed workers hospitalized for occupational health examination were assigned into the study. All workers underwent a medical examination, electrocardiogram recording, blood pressure test, other blood tests, and audiometry. The collected blood was used to detect homocysteine (HCY), renin, angiotensin II, and other markers of cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Our study suggests that the type of work with long-term exposure to noise might pose a cardiovascular risk, as evidenced by associated increases in plasma HCY levels, incidence of type 2 diabetes, and incidence of hypertension. Discussion: Our research also reveals that among male workers, the levels of triglycerides, uric acid, HCY, renin activity, and the incidence of hypertension are higher than female, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is lower than female workers had. Additionally, the study emphasizes again the importance of weight control for reducing cardiovascular risk. Conclusion: Our study suggests that noise is a cardiovascular risk factor. Interventions in the work environment could be a preventable and controllable manner for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease.
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Audiometric notch and extended high-frequency hearing threshold shift in relation to total leisure noise exposure: An exploratory analysis
Noise and Health 2017 19(91):263-269
Background: Studies investigating leisure noise effect on extended high frequency hearing are insufficient and they have inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to investigate if extended high-frequency hearing threshold shift is related to audiometric notch, and if total leisure noise exposure is associated with extended high-frequency hearing threshold shift. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire of the Ohrkan cohort study was used to collect information on demographics and leisure time activities. Conventional and extended high-frequency audiometry was performed. We did logistic regression between extended high-frequency hearing threshold shift and audiometric notch as well as between total leisure noise exposure and extended high-frequency hearing threshold shift. Potential confounders (sex, school type, and firecrackers) were included. Results: Data from 278 participants (aged 18–23 years, 53.2% female) were analyzed. Associations between hearing threshold shift at 10, 11.2, 12.5, and 14 kHz with audiometric notch were observed with a higher prevalence of threshold shift at the four frequencies, compared to the notch. However, we found no associations between total leisure noise exposure and hearing threshold shift at any extended high frequency. Conclusion: This exploratory analysis suggests that while extended high-frequency hearing threshold shifts are not related to total leisure noise exposure, they are strongly associated with audiometric notch. This leads us to further explore the hypothesis that extended high-frequency threshold shift might be indicative of the appearance of audiometric notch at a later time point, which can be investigated in the future follow-ups of the Ohrkan cohort.
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Using auditory steady-state responses for measuring hearing protector occlusion effect
Noise and Health 2017 19(91):278-285
Introduction: The currently available methods for measuring the occlusion effect (OE) of hearing protection devices (HPDs) have limitations. Objective microphonic measurements do not assess bone-conducted sounds directly transmitted to the cochlea. Psychophysical measurements at threshold are biased due to the low-frequency masking effects from test participants’ physiological noise and the variability of measurements based on subjective responses. An auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) procedure is used as a technique that might overcome these limitations. Participants and Methods: Pure-tone stimuli (250 and 500 Hz), with amplitude modulated at 40 Hz, were presented to twelve adults with normal hearing through a bone vibrator at three levels in 10-dB steps. The following two conditions were assessed: the unoccluded ear canal and occluded ear canal. ASSR amplitude data as a function of the stimulation level were linearized using least-square regressions. The ASSR-based “physiological” OE was then calculated as the average difference between the two measurements. Results: A significant statistical difference was found between the average threshold-based psychophysical OE and the average ASSR-based OE. Conclusion: This study successfully ascertained that it is possible to objectively measure the OE of HPD using ASSRs collected on the same participant both with and without protectors.
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Validation of 6 min step test and 4-m gait speed in children: A randomized cross-over study
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Gregory Reychler, Nicolas Audag, Sophie Dewulf, Natalia Morales Mestre, Gilles Caty
IntroductionEven if 6-min walking test (6MWT) is the criterion standard for functional exercise performance evaluation, new field tests are required as practical alternative. This study aims to establish the validity of the 6-min step test (6MST) and the 4-m gait speed (4MGS) in children.MethodIt is a randomized cross-over trial. Sixty one healthy children from 6 to 12 years were recruited. 6MWT, 6MST and 4MGS were randomly performed on three consecutive days. Pulsed oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), dyspnea (VAS) and fatigue (PCERT) were used as outcomes.ResultsThe distance walked during 6MWT was correlated to the number of steps during 6MST (r = 0.320; p = 0.013) and not correlated to 4MGS (r = −0.074; p = 0.575). No correlation between number of steps during 6MST and 4MGS (r = −0.129; p = 0.332) was found. HR was lower than the theoretical maximal HR after the tests. The increase in HR was significantly higher for 6MST and significantly lower for 4MGS than for 6MWT and it was higher for 6MST than for 4MGS. Dyspnea and perceived exertion were lower after 6MWT than after 6MST and higher than after 4MGS. They were also higher during 6MST than during 4MGS.ConclusionThe three field tests are feasible in children. The 6MST and 4MGS are not valid surrogates to 6MWT in healthy children for functional exercise performance evaluation. Moreover, the cardio-respiratory response differs between the three tests.
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Validation of 6 min step test and 4-m gait speed in children: A randomized cross-over study
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Gregory Reychler, Nicolas Audag, Sophie Dewulf, Natalia Morales Mestre, Gilles Caty
IntroductionEven if 6-min walking test (6MWT) is the criterion standard for functional exercise performance evaluation, new field tests are required as practical alternative. This study aims to establish the validity of the 6-min step test (6MST) and the 4-m gait speed (4MGS) in children.MethodIt is a randomized cross-over trial. Sixty one healthy children from 6 to 12 years were recruited. 6MWT, 6MST and 4MGS were randomly performed on three consecutive days. Pulsed oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), dyspnea (VAS) and fatigue (PCERT) were used as outcomes.ResultsThe distance walked during 6MWT was correlated to the number of steps during 6MST (r = 0.320; p = 0.013) and not correlated to 4MGS (r = −0.074; p = 0.575). No correlation between number of steps during 6MST and 4MGS (r = −0.129; p = 0.332) was found. HR was lower than the theoretical maximal HR after the tests. The increase in HR was significantly higher for 6MST and significantly lower for 4MGS than for 6MWT and it was higher for 6MST than for 4MGS. Dyspnea and perceived exertion were lower after 6MWT than after 6MST and higher than after 4MGS. They were also higher during 6MST than during 4MGS.ConclusionThe three field tests are feasible in children. The 6MST and 4MGS are not valid surrogates to 6MWT in healthy children for functional exercise performance evaluation. Moreover, the cardio-respiratory response differs between the three tests.
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Validation of 6 min step test and 4-m gait speed in children: A randomized cross-over study
Source:Gait & Posture, Volume 61
Author(s): Gregory Reychler, Nicolas Audag, Sophie Dewulf, Natalia Morales Mestre, Gilles Caty
IntroductionEven if 6-min walking test (6MWT) is the criterion standard for functional exercise performance evaluation, new field tests are required as practical alternative. This study aims to establish the validity of the 6-min step test (6MST) and the 4-m gait speed (4MGS) in children.MethodIt is a randomized cross-over trial. Sixty one healthy children from 6 to 12 years were recruited. 6MWT, 6MST and 4MGS were randomly performed on three consecutive days. Pulsed oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), dyspnea (VAS) and fatigue (PCERT) were used as outcomes.ResultsThe distance walked during 6MWT was correlated to the number of steps during 6MST (r = 0.320; p = 0.013) and not correlated to 4MGS (r = −0.074; p = 0.575). No correlation between number of steps during 6MST and 4MGS (r = −0.129; p = 0.332) was found. HR was lower than the theoretical maximal HR after the tests. The increase in HR was significantly higher for 6MST and significantly lower for 4MGS than for 6MWT and it was higher for 6MST than for 4MGS. Dyspnea and perceived exertion were lower after 6MWT than after 6MST and higher than after 4MGS. They were also higher during 6MST than during 4MGS.ConclusionThe three field tests are feasible in children. The 6MST and 4MGS are not valid surrogates to 6MWT in healthy children for functional exercise performance evaluation. Moreover, the cardio-respiratory response differs between the three tests.
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Correlations Between the Degree of Endolymphatic Hydrops and Symptoms and Audiological Test Results in Patients With Menière's Disease: A Reevaluation
Objective: This study was performed to reevaluate the diagnostic significance of clinically well-accepted audiological tests in indicating endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in Menière's disease (MD). Study Design: Retrospective case review. Settings: Hospital. Patients: Fifty patients (52 affected ears) diagnosed with MD were enrolled. Intervention: Diagnostic. Main Outcome Measure: To analyze the correlations between endolymphatic hydrops and results of audiological test including the pure-tone audiometry threshold, suprathreshold function tests, electrocochleogram, and glycerol test. Results: Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated EH in either the vestibule or cochlea to various degrees in all of the MD patients, 24 hours after intratympanic gadolinium chelate injection. Both vestibular and cochlear EH were significantly correlated with PTA threshold. However, EH was not associated with alternate binaural loudness balance or the tone decay test, although a correlation was observed with the short-increment sensitivity index. There was also a correlation between vestibular EH, but not cochlear EH, and the negative summating potential/action potential (–SP/AP) ratio. Neither vestibular EH nor cochlear EH was correlated with the glycerol test results. In addition, the frequency of vertigo attacks, the existence of tinnitus, and aural fullness did not correlate with EH. Conclusions: Disrupted ionic homeostasis in the inner ear, but not the EH, may contribute to changes in the –SP/AP ratio. The relevance of glycerol test in identifying EH through detection of hearing changes needs further investigation in the future. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Haibo Shi, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Yishan Road #600, Shanghai 200233, China; E-mail: haibo99@hotmail.com; Yuehua Li, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, The Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Yishan Road #600, Shanghai 200233, China; E-mail: liyuehua312@163.com; Jing Zou, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Changhai Road #168, Shanghai 200433, China; E-mail: zoujinghb@hotmail.com S.Y. and H.Z. have contributed equally to this work. This work was supported by grants from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission-Gaofeng Clinical Medicine Grant Support (No. 20152233), the Key Project of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medicine Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Foundation (No.YG2016ZD02), the research program of the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (No.124119b0300), Clinical Research Plan of Shanghai Shen Kang Hospital Development Center (16CR4022A, 16CR3041A), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81771006/H1304). The authors disclose no conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2017 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) in Children and Adolescents: Clinical Features and Response to Therapy in 110 Pediatric Patients
Objective: This study aimed to characterize the clinical features and outcomes of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in the pediatric population. Study Design: Retrospective case review. Setting: Tertiary care center. Patients: One hundred ten patients, aged 5 to 19 years old, diagnosed with BPPV. Main Outcome Measures: Patient demographics, comorbidities, canal involvement, response to treatment, and incidence of recurrence. Results: BPPV was diagnosed in 19.8% of patients seen for dizziness during the study period. Patient age ranged 5 to 19 years old (mean =13.4 ± 3.4 yr). Female:male ratio was 3:2. The most prevalent comorbidities were concussion (n = 42, 38.2%) and migraine disorders (n = 33, 30.0%). Average time to diagnosis from symptom onset was 178.2 ± 190.8 days. The posterior canal was most frequently affected (n = 80, 72.7%), followed by the lateral canal (n = 37, 33.6%) and superior canal (n = 21, 19.1%), and 36.4% (n = 40) of patients had multiple canals affected. Treatment requiring more than or equal to five maneuvers to achieve resolution was observed in 11.8% of cases (n = 13). Recurrence was observed in 18.2% of cases. A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that patients with vestibular migraine or benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood had five times higher odds of recurrence of BPPV, p = 0.003, 95% [1.735, 15.342], than those who did not have either. Conclusions: BPPV is a relatively common cause of dizziness in the pediatric population. Children and adolescents with BPPV can be successfully treated with repositioning maneuvers but may be at risk for treatment resistance and recurrence. Increased awareness of BPPV in pediatric patients may reduce delays in identification and treatment. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Jacob R. Brodsky, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115; E-mail: jacob.brodsky@childrens.harvard.edu All financial support for this study was provided by the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement at Boston Children's Hospital. The authors have no financial or personal conflicts of interest to disclose. Copyright © 2017 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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Effect of Blast Injury on Auditory Localization in Military Service Members
Objectives: Among the many advantages of binaural hearing are the abilities to localize sounds in space and to attend to one sound in the presence of many sounds. Binaural hearing provides benefits for all listeners, but it may be especially critical for military personnel who must maintain situational awareness in complex tactical environments with multiple speech and noise sources. There is concern that Military Service Members who have been exposed to one or more high-intensity blasts during their tour of duty may have difficulty with binaural and spatial ability due to degradation in auditory and cognitive processes. The primary objective of this study was to assess the ability of blast-exposed Military Service Members to localize speech sounds in quiet and in multisource environments with one or two competing talkers. Design: Participants were presented with one, two, or three topic-related (e.g., sports, food, travel) sentences under headphones and required to attend to, and then locate the source of, the sentence pertaining to a prespecified target topic within a virtual space. The listener’s head position was monitored by a head-mounted tracking device that continuously updated the apparent spatial location of the target and competing speech sounds as the subject turned within the virtual space. Measurements of auditory localization ability included mean absolute error in locating the source of the target sentence, the time it took to locate the target sentence within 30 degrees, target/competitor confusion errors, response time, and cumulative head motion. Twenty-one blast-exposed Active-Duty or Veteran Military Service Members (blast-exposed group) and 33 non-blast-exposed Service Members and beneficiaries (control group) were evaluated. Results: In general, the blast-exposed group performed as well as the control group if the task involved localizing the source of a single speech target. However, if the task involved two or three simultaneous talkers, localization ability was compromised for some participants in the blast-exposed group. Blast-exposed participants were less accurate in their localization responses and required more exploratory head movements to find the location of the target talker. Conclusions: Results suggest that blast-exposed participants have more difficulty than non-blast-exposed participants in localizing sounds in complex acoustic environments. This apparent deficit in spatial hearing ability highlights the need to develop new diagnostic tests using complex listening tasks that involve multiple sound sources that require speech segregation and comprehension. Written work prepared by employees of the Federal Government as part of their official duties is, under the U.S. Copyright Act, a “work of the United States Government” for which copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As such, copyright does not extend to the contributions of employees of the Federal Government. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This article is dedicated to Dr. R. (Steve) Ackley (1946-2013), Chair, Department of Speech, Hearing, and Language Sciences at Gallaudet University. He served as an advisor to the first author, L. Kubli. Dr. Ackley provided guidance, patience, humor, and support to complete the research study. He was an admirable mentor and friend who is missed dearly. The research was supported by a grant (D61I10J826) from the Defense Medical Research and Development Program. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Address for correspondence: Lina R. Kubli, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW (10P9R), Washington DC, 20420, USA. E-mail: lina.kubli@va.gov Received August 19, 2016; accepted September 26, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Effects of Amplification on Neural Phase Locking, Amplitude, and Latency to a Speech Syllable
Objective: Older adults often have trouble adjusting to hearing aids when they start wearing them for the first time. Probe microphone measurements verify appropriate levels of amplification up to the tympanic membrane. Little is known, however, about the effects of amplification on auditory-evoked responses to speech stimuli during initial hearing aid use. The present study assesses the effects of amplification on neural encoding of a speech signal in older adults using hearing aids for the first time. It was hypothesized that amplification results in improved stimulus encoding (higher amplitudes, improved phase locking, and earlier latencies), with greater effects for the regions of the signal that are less audible. Design: Thirty-seven adults, aged 60 to 85 years with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss and no prior hearing aid use, were bilaterally fit with Widex Dream 440 receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids. Probe microphone measures were used to adjust the gain of the hearing aids and verify the fitting. Unaided and aided frequency-following responses and cortical auditory-evoked potentials to the stimulus /ga/ were recorded in sound field over the course of 2 days for three conditions: 65 dB SPL and 80 dB SPL in quiet, and 80 dB SPL in six-talker babble (+10 signal to noise ratio). Results: Responses from midbrain were analyzed in the time regions corresponding to the consonant transition (18 to 68 ms) and the steady state vowel (68 to 170 ms). Generally, amplification increased phase locking and amplitude and decreased latency for the region and presentation conditions that had lower stimulus amplitudes—the transition region and 65 dB SPL level. Responses from cortex showed decreased latency for P1, but an unexpected decrease in N1 amplitude. Previous studies have demonstrated an exaggerated cortical representation of speech in older adults compared to younger adults, possibly because of an increase in neural resources necessary to encode the signal. Therefore, a decrease in N1 amplitude with amplification and with increased presentation level may suggest that amplification decreases the neural resources necessary for cortical encoding. Conclusion: Increased phase locking and amplitude and decreased latency in midbrain suggest that amplification may improve neural representation of the speech signal in new hearing aid users. The improvement with amplification was also found in cortex, and, in particular, decreased P1 latencies and lower N1 amplitudes may indicate greater neural efficiency. Further investigations will evaluate changes in subcortical and cortical responses during the first 6 months of hearing aid use. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We thank Francis Kuk, Widex USA, for feedback on the project, and Widex USA, Inc. for providing hearing aids and participant funds and providing KEMAR measurements. We also thank Dr. Richard Wilson for providing the six-talker babble used in the noise presentation condition. We also acknowledge Lauren Evans, Arielle Abrams, Alyson Schapiro, Andrea Kaplanges, Alanna Schloss, and other lab members for their help with data collection and analysis. S.A. designed the experiment; K.J., C.F., A.P., and S.A. collected and analyzed the data; and K.J., C.F., A.P., and S.A. wrote the article. We have no conflict of interest to report. This study was funded by University of Maryland’s Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, the Hearing Health Foundation, NIH-NIDCD Grant T32DC000046, and Widex USA, Inc. who provided hearing aids for the duration of the study and contributed to subject compensation. Address for correspondence: Samira Anderson, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, 0100 Lefrak Hall, 7251 Preinkert Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA. E-mail: sander22@umd.edu Received May 14, 2016; accepted November 5, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Effect of Blast Injury on Auditory Localization in Military Service Members
Objectives: Among the many advantages of binaural hearing are the abilities to localize sounds in space and to attend to one sound in the presence of many sounds. Binaural hearing provides benefits for all listeners, but it may be especially critical for military personnel who must maintain situational awareness in complex tactical environments with multiple speech and noise sources. There is concern that Military Service Members who have been exposed to one or more high-intensity blasts during their tour of duty may have difficulty with binaural and spatial ability due to degradation in auditory and cognitive processes. The primary objective of this study was to assess the ability of blast-exposed Military Service Members to localize speech sounds in quiet and in multisource environments with one or two competing talkers. Design: Participants were presented with one, two, or three topic-related (e.g., sports, food, travel) sentences under headphones and required to attend to, and then locate the source of, the sentence pertaining to a prespecified target topic within a virtual space. The listener’s head position was monitored by a head-mounted tracking device that continuously updated the apparent spatial location of the target and competing speech sounds as the subject turned within the virtual space. Measurements of auditory localization ability included mean absolute error in locating the source of the target sentence, the time it took to locate the target sentence within 30 degrees, target/competitor confusion errors, response time, and cumulative head motion. Twenty-one blast-exposed Active-Duty or Veteran Military Service Members (blast-exposed group) and 33 non-blast-exposed Service Members and beneficiaries (control group) were evaluated. Results: In general, the blast-exposed group performed as well as the control group if the task involved localizing the source of a single speech target. However, if the task involved two or three simultaneous talkers, localization ability was compromised for some participants in the blast-exposed group. Blast-exposed participants were less accurate in their localization responses and required more exploratory head movements to find the location of the target talker. Conclusions: Results suggest that blast-exposed participants have more difficulty than non-blast-exposed participants in localizing sounds in complex acoustic environments. This apparent deficit in spatial hearing ability highlights the need to develop new diagnostic tests using complex listening tasks that involve multiple sound sources that require speech segregation and comprehension. Written work prepared by employees of the Federal Government as part of their official duties is, under the U.S. Copyright Act, a “work of the United States Government” for which copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As such, copyright does not extend to the contributions of employees of the Federal Government. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This article is dedicated to Dr. R. (Steve) Ackley (1946-2013), Chair, Department of Speech, Hearing, and Language Sciences at Gallaudet University. He served as an advisor to the first author, L. Kubli. Dr. Ackley provided guidance, patience, humor, and support to complete the research study. He was an admirable mentor and friend who is missed dearly. The research was supported by a grant (D61I10J826) from the Defense Medical Research and Development Program. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Address for correspondence: Lina R. Kubli, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW (10P9R), Washington DC, 20420, USA. E-mail: lina.kubli@va.gov Received August 19, 2016; accepted September 26, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Effects of Amplification on Neural Phase Locking, Amplitude, and Latency to a Speech Syllable
Objective: Older adults often have trouble adjusting to hearing aids when they start wearing them for the first time. Probe microphone measurements verify appropriate levels of amplification up to the tympanic membrane. Little is known, however, about the effects of amplification on auditory-evoked responses to speech stimuli during initial hearing aid use. The present study assesses the effects of amplification on neural encoding of a speech signal in older adults using hearing aids for the first time. It was hypothesized that amplification results in improved stimulus encoding (higher amplitudes, improved phase locking, and earlier latencies), with greater effects for the regions of the signal that are less audible. Design: Thirty-seven adults, aged 60 to 85 years with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss and no prior hearing aid use, were bilaterally fit with Widex Dream 440 receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids. Probe microphone measures were used to adjust the gain of the hearing aids and verify the fitting. Unaided and aided frequency-following responses and cortical auditory-evoked potentials to the stimulus /ga/ were recorded in sound field over the course of 2 days for three conditions: 65 dB SPL and 80 dB SPL in quiet, and 80 dB SPL in six-talker babble (+10 signal to noise ratio). Results: Responses from midbrain were analyzed in the time regions corresponding to the consonant transition (18 to 68 ms) and the steady state vowel (68 to 170 ms). Generally, amplification increased phase locking and amplitude and decreased latency for the region and presentation conditions that had lower stimulus amplitudes—the transition region and 65 dB SPL level. Responses from cortex showed decreased latency for P1, but an unexpected decrease in N1 amplitude. Previous studies have demonstrated an exaggerated cortical representation of speech in older adults compared to younger adults, possibly because of an increase in neural resources necessary to encode the signal. Therefore, a decrease in N1 amplitude with amplification and with increased presentation level may suggest that amplification decreases the neural resources necessary for cortical encoding. Conclusion: Increased phase locking and amplitude and decreased latency in midbrain suggest that amplification may improve neural representation of the speech signal in new hearing aid users. The improvement with amplification was also found in cortex, and, in particular, decreased P1 latencies and lower N1 amplitudes may indicate greater neural efficiency. Further investigations will evaluate changes in subcortical and cortical responses during the first 6 months of hearing aid use. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We thank Francis Kuk, Widex USA, for feedback on the project, and Widex USA, Inc. for providing hearing aids and participant funds and providing KEMAR measurements. We also thank Dr. Richard Wilson for providing the six-talker babble used in the noise presentation condition. We also acknowledge Lauren Evans, Arielle Abrams, Alyson Schapiro, Andrea Kaplanges, Alanna Schloss, and other lab members for their help with data collection and analysis. S.A. designed the experiment; K.J., C.F., A.P., and S.A. collected and analyzed the data; and K.J., C.F., A.P., and S.A. wrote the article. We have no conflict of interest to report. This study was funded by University of Maryland’s Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, the Hearing Health Foundation, NIH-NIDCD Grant T32DC000046, and Widex USA, Inc. who provided hearing aids for the duration of the study and contributed to subject compensation. Address for correspondence: Samira Anderson, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, 0100 Lefrak Hall, 7251 Preinkert Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA. E-mail: sander22@umd.edu Received May 14, 2016; accepted November 5, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Effect of Blast Injury on Auditory Localization in Military Service Members
Objectives: Among the many advantages of binaural hearing are the abilities to localize sounds in space and to attend to one sound in the presence of many sounds. Binaural hearing provides benefits for all listeners, but it may be especially critical for military personnel who must maintain situational awareness in complex tactical environments with multiple speech and noise sources. There is concern that Military Service Members who have been exposed to one or more high-intensity blasts during their tour of duty may have difficulty with binaural and spatial ability due to degradation in auditory and cognitive processes. The primary objective of this study was to assess the ability of blast-exposed Military Service Members to localize speech sounds in quiet and in multisource environments with one or two competing talkers. Design: Participants were presented with one, two, or three topic-related (e.g., sports, food, travel) sentences under headphones and required to attend to, and then locate the source of, the sentence pertaining to a prespecified target topic within a virtual space. The listener’s head position was monitored by a head-mounted tracking device that continuously updated the apparent spatial location of the target and competing speech sounds as the subject turned within the virtual space. Measurements of auditory localization ability included mean absolute error in locating the source of the target sentence, the time it took to locate the target sentence within 30 degrees, target/competitor confusion errors, response time, and cumulative head motion. Twenty-one blast-exposed Active-Duty or Veteran Military Service Members (blast-exposed group) and 33 non-blast-exposed Service Members and beneficiaries (control group) were evaluated. Results: In general, the blast-exposed group performed as well as the control group if the task involved localizing the source of a single speech target. However, if the task involved two or three simultaneous talkers, localization ability was compromised for some participants in the blast-exposed group. Blast-exposed participants were less accurate in their localization responses and required more exploratory head movements to find the location of the target talker. Conclusions: Results suggest that blast-exposed participants have more difficulty than non-blast-exposed participants in localizing sounds in complex acoustic environments. This apparent deficit in spatial hearing ability highlights the need to develop new diagnostic tests using complex listening tasks that involve multiple sound sources that require speech segregation and comprehension. Written work prepared by employees of the Federal Government as part of their official duties is, under the U.S. Copyright Act, a “work of the United States Government” for which copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As such, copyright does not extend to the contributions of employees of the Federal Government. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: This article is dedicated to Dr. R. (Steve) Ackley (1946-2013), Chair, Department of Speech, Hearing, and Language Sciences at Gallaudet University. He served as an advisor to the first author, L. Kubli. Dr. Ackley provided guidance, patience, humor, and support to complete the research study. He was an admirable mentor and friend who is missed dearly. The research was supported by a grant (D61I10J826) from the Defense Medical Research and Development Program. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Address for correspondence: Lina R. Kubli, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW (10P9R), Washington DC, 20420, USA. E-mail: lina.kubli@va.gov Received August 19, 2016; accepted September 26, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Effects of Amplification on Neural Phase Locking, Amplitude, and Latency to a Speech Syllable
Objective: Older adults often have trouble adjusting to hearing aids when they start wearing them for the first time. Probe microphone measurements verify appropriate levels of amplification up to the tympanic membrane. Little is known, however, about the effects of amplification on auditory-evoked responses to speech stimuli during initial hearing aid use. The present study assesses the effects of amplification on neural encoding of a speech signal in older adults using hearing aids for the first time. It was hypothesized that amplification results in improved stimulus encoding (higher amplitudes, improved phase locking, and earlier latencies), with greater effects for the regions of the signal that are less audible. Design: Thirty-seven adults, aged 60 to 85 years with mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss and no prior hearing aid use, were bilaterally fit with Widex Dream 440 receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids. Probe microphone measures were used to adjust the gain of the hearing aids and verify the fitting. Unaided and aided frequency-following responses and cortical auditory-evoked potentials to the stimulus /ga/ were recorded in sound field over the course of 2 days for three conditions: 65 dB SPL and 80 dB SPL in quiet, and 80 dB SPL in six-talker babble (+10 signal to noise ratio). Results: Responses from midbrain were analyzed in the time regions corresponding to the consonant transition (18 to 68 ms) and the steady state vowel (68 to 170 ms). Generally, amplification increased phase locking and amplitude and decreased latency for the region and presentation conditions that had lower stimulus amplitudes—the transition region and 65 dB SPL level. Responses from cortex showed decreased latency for P1, but an unexpected decrease in N1 amplitude. Previous studies have demonstrated an exaggerated cortical representation of speech in older adults compared to younger adults, possibly because of an increase in neural resources necessary to encode the signal. Therefore, a decrease in N1 amplitude with amplification and with increased presentation level may suggest that amplification decreases the neural resources necessary for cortical encoding. Conclusion: Increased phase locking and amplitude and decreased latency in midbrain suggest that amplification may improve neural representation of the speech signal in new hearing aid users. The improvement with amplification was also found in cortex, and, in particular, decreased P1 latencies and lower N1 amplitudes may indicate greater neural efficiency. Further investigations will evaluate changes in subcortical and cortical responses during the first 6 months of hearing aid use. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We thank Francis Kuk, Widex USA, for feedback on the project, and Widex USA, Inc. for providing hearing aids and participant funds and providing KEMAR measurements. We also thank Dr. Richard Wilson for providing the six-talker babble used in the noise presentation condition. We also acknowledge Lauren Evans, Arielle Abrams, Alyson Schapiro, Andrea Kaplanges, Alanna Schloss, and other lab members for their help with data collection and analysis. S.A. designed the experiment; K.J., C.F., A.P., and S.A. collected and analyzed the data; and K.J., C.F., A.P., and S.A. wrote the article. We have no conflict of interest to report. This study was funded by University of Maryland’s Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, the Hearing Health Foundation, NIH-NIDCD Grant T32DC000046, and Widex USA, Inc. who provided hearing aids for the duration of the study and contributed to subject compensation. Address for correspondence: Samira Anderson, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, 0100 Lefrak Hall, 7251 Preinkert Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA. E-mail: sander22@umd.edu Received May 14, 2016; accepted November 5, 2017. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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The Reliability and Validity of "Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale".
The Reliability and Validity of "Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale".
J Int Adv Otol. 2017 Dec 14;:
Authors: Mutlu B, Kırkım G, Mungan Durankaya S, Gürkan S, Başokçu TO, Güneri EA
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Ménière's Disease (MD) is a chronic, non-life threatening inner ear disease, with attacks of disabling vertigo, progressive hearing loss, and tinnitus as the major symptoms. All three symptoms, separately or in combination, cause great distress and have a considerable impact on the quality of life of the patients. The aims of this study were to develop a disease-specific quality of life survey for patients with MD and to analyze the relationships between the audiovestibular findings and the survey.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following Ear-Nose-Throat examination and audiovestibular tests, the Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale (DEU-MDDS) and Turkish version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI-T) were administered to 93 patients with definite MD. Reliability and validity analyses of the scale were performed.
RESULTS: There were 45 (48.4%) male and 48 (51.6%) female patients and the mean age was 48.9±12.1 years. Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 and intraclass correlation coefficients of the DEU-MMDS were significant (p<0.001). Results of the Goodness of Fit Statistics showed that the expression levels of the items were high and the correlation coefficients of each item with the scale were sufficient. There was a statistically significant correlation between DHI-T scores and MDDS. DEU-MDDS was not related to the vestibular tests, age or gender (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: The MDDS is a valid and reliable scale as a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with MD.
PMID: 29283101 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Amiodarone-associated bilateral vestibulopathy.
| Related Articles |
Amiodarone-associated bilateral vestibulopathy.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Dec 27;:
Authors: Gürkov R, Manzari L, Blödow A, Wenzel A, Pavlovic D, Luis L
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is a debilitating disorder characterized by the hypofunction of both vestibular end organs or nerves. The most frequent identifiable causes of BVP are ototoxic drug effects, infectious and autoimmune disorders. The majority of cases, however, remain idiopathic.
METHODS: Medical records of patients diagnosed with idiopathic BVP were examined in five dizziness clinics.
RESULTS: We identified 126 patients with "idiopathic" BVP. Out of these, 15 patients had a history of Amiodarone treatment before the diagnosis of BVP, resulting in a 12% prevalence.
CONCLUSION: The present report supports the hypothesis that Amiodarone can cause BVP. Vestibular examination in patients taking Amiodarone and suffering from balance-related symptoms are recommended, to recognize this adverse effect as early as possible and allow for an informed judgement on a potential dose reduction or withdrawal for recovery of the vestibular function.
PMID: 29282523 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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The Reliability and Validity of "Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale".
The Reliability and Validity of "Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale".
J Int Adv Otol. 2017 Dec 14;:
Authors: Mutlu B, Kırkım G, Mungan Durankaya S, Gürkan S, Başokçu TO, Güneri EA
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Ménière's Disease (MD) is a chronic, non-life threatening inner ear disease, with attacks of disabling vertigo, progressive hearing loss, and tinnitus as the major symptoms. All three symptoms, separately or in combination, cause great distress and have a considerable impact on the quality of life of the patients. The aims of this study were to develop a disease-specific quality of life survey for patients with MD and to analyze the relationships between the audiovestibular findings and the survey.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following Ear-Nose-Throat examination and audiovestibular tests, the Dokuz Eylül University Meniere's Disease Disability Scale (DEU-MDDS) and Turkish version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI-T) were administered to 93 patients with definite MD. Reliability and validity analyses of the scale were performed.
RESULTS: There were 45 (48.4%) male and 48 (51.6%) female patients and the mean age was 48.9±12.1 years. Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 and intraclass correlation coefficients of the DEU-MMDS were significant (p<0.001). Results of the Goodness of Fit Statistics showed that the expression levels of the items were high and the correlation coefficients of each item with the scale were sufficient. There was a statistically significant correlation between DHI-T scores and MDDS. DEU-MDDS was not related to the vestibular tests, age or gender (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: The MDDS is a valid and reliable scale as a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with MD.
PMID: 29283101 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Amiodarone-associated bilateral vestibulopathy.
| Related Articles |
Amiodarone-associated bilateral vestibulopathy.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Dec 27;:
Authors: Gürkov R, Manzari L, Blödow A, Wenzel A, Pavlovic D, Luis L
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is a debilitating disorder characterized by the hypofunction of both vestibular end organs or nerves. The most frequent identifiable causes of BVP are ototoxic drug effects, infectious and autoimmune disorders. The majority of cases, however, remain idiopathic.
METHODS: Medical records of patients diagnosed with idiopathic BVP were examined in five dizziness clinics.
RESULTS: We identified 126 patients with "idiopathic" BVP. Out of these, 15 patients had a history of Amiodarone treatment before the diagnosis of BVP, resulting in a 12% prevalence.
CONCLUSION: The present report supports the hypothesis that Amiodarone can cause BVP. Vestibular examination in patients taking Amiodarone and suffering from balance-related symptoms are recommended, to recognize this adverse effect as early as possible and allow for an informed judgement on a potential dose reduction or withdrawal for recovery of the vestibular function.
PMID: 29282523 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Πέμπτη 28 Δεκεμβρίου 2017
Evaluation of the Supraglottic and Subglottic Activities Including Acoustic Assessment of the Opera-Chant Singers
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Emine Petekkaya, Ahmet Hilmi Yücel, Özgür Sürmelioğlu
Opera and chant singers learn to effectively use aerodynamic components by breathing exercises during their education. Aerodynamic components, including subglottic air pressure and airflow, deteriorate in voice disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in aerodynamic parameters and supraglottic structures of men and women with different vocal registers who are in an opera and chant education program. Vocal acoustic characteristics, aerodynamic components, and supraglottic structures were evaluated in 40 opera and chant art branch students. The majority of female students were sopranos, and the male students were baritone or tenor vocalists. The acoustic analyses revealed that the mean fundamental frequency was 152.33 Hz in the males and 218.77 Hz in the females. The estimated mean subglottal pressures were similar in females (14.99 cmH2O) and in males (14.48 cmH2O). Estimated mean airflow rates were also similar in both groups. The supraglottic structure compression analyses revealed partial anterior-posterior compressions in 2 tenors and 2 sopranos, and false vocal fold compression in 2 sopranos. Opera music is sung in high-pitched sounds. Attempts to sing high-pitched notes and frequently using register transitions overstrain the vocal structures. This intense muscular effort eventually traumatizes the vocal structures and causes supraglottic activity.
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The Influence of Noise on the Vocal Dose in Women
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Alessandra Terra Vasconcelos Rabelo, Juliana Nunes Santos, Bárbara Oliveira Souza, Ana Cristina Côrtes Gama, Max de Castro Magalhães
ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate if noise interferes with the vocal dose in women without vocal complaints.Study designThis is an experimental and comparative study.MethodsData were collected on 27 women between 22 and 50 years of age without vocal complaints in a university classroom. Speech-language pathology evaluation was performed employing auditory-perceptual analysis and a vocal symptom questionnaire. The acoustics of the classroom were evaluated via both observation of the characteristics of the room and the quantification of background noise and reverberation time. Two distinctive acoustic conditions were created for evaluations: condition 1, a room without acoustic treatment and without noise reproduction, and condition 2, a room without acoustic treatment with noise reproduction. Each participant was evaluated individually in both acoustic conditions. To obtain vocal dose data, a vocal dosimeter was used. Subjects were asked to perform two 10-minute readings, one in each acoustic condition. The order of conditions was randomized between subjects. Subjects were instructed to complete the reading tasks at the vocal intensity deemed appropriate to be heard by a listener in the back of the room. t Tests and the Wilcoxon test were employed to compare parameters across subjects and conditions.ResultsFundamental frequency, vocal intensity, percentage of phonation, and cycle dose significantly increased in the background noise condition.ConclusionA positive relation between vocal dose and the presence of excessive noise in the environment was observed.
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The Effectiveness of the EASE Scale in the Development of a Vocal Warm-up Program for an Amateur Choir
Source:Journal of Voice
Author(s): Daniel Lucas Picanço Marchand, Fernanda Salles Kavaliunas, Mauriceia Cassol
ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the effectiveness of the EASE-BR (Evaluation of the Ability to Sing Easily for Brazil) protocol in the development of a vocal warm-up program for members of an amateur choir.Study DesignThis is a prospective cross-sectional study measuring pre- and postintervention results at two moments.MethodsForty-four subjects filled out a questionnaire to characterize the sample and underwent two major applications of the EASE-BR scale—the first to determine the group's vocal requirements and the second to assess the performance after the application of a customized vocal warm-up routine.ResultsOverall reduction of the scores in the postintervention moment has been determined. The score of 16 of the questions (72.7%) showed a statistically relevant reduction after the intervention.ConclusionsThe EASE-BR scale proved a valuable assessment tool and its use may help develop customized vocal warm-up programs for different types of singers.
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Cochlear Implantation After Partial or Subtotal Cochleoectomy for Intracochlear Schwannoma Removal—A Technical Report
Objective: To describe the technique for surgical tumor removal, cochlear implant (CI) electrode placement and reconstruction of the surgical defect in patients with intracochlear schwannomas. Study Design: Retrospective case review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Ten patients (five men, five women, mean age 48 ± 12 yr) with profound or severe to profound hearing loss due to intralabyrinthine schwannomas with intracochlear location. Interventions: Surgical tumor removal through extended round window approach, partial or subtotal cochleoectomy with or without labyrinthectomy and reconstruction of the surgical defect with cartilage, perichondrium or temporal muscle fascia, and bone pâté. Eight patients received a cochlear implant in the same procedure. Main Outcome Measures: Retrospective evaluation of clinical outcome including safety aspects (adverse events) and audiological performance at early follow up in cases of cochlear implantation. Results: The tumor was successfully removed in all cases without macroscopic (operation microscope and endoscope) tumor remnants in the bony labyrinth apart from one case with initial transmodiolar growth. One patient needed revision surgery for labyrinthine fistula. At short-term follow up (3-month post-surgery), good hearing results with the cochlear implant were obtained in all but one patient with a word recognition score of 100% for numbers, and 64 ± 14% for monosyllables (at 65 dB SPL in quiet). Conclusions: Surgical tumor removal and cochlear implantation is a promising treatment strategy in the management of intralabyrinthine schwannoma with intracochlear location, further extending the indication range for cochlear implantation. It is, however, of importance to observe the long-term outcome in these patients and to address challenges like follow up with magnetic resonance imaging. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. http://ift.tt/OBJ4xP Address correspondence and reprint requests to Prof. Dr. med. Stefan K. Plontke, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, University Medicine Halle, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; E-mail: stefan.plontke@uk-halle.de Funding: There was no external funding received for this work. The authors’ institution (of SKP and TR) receives grant support for other collaborative research work (not related to this study) with Cochlear Ltd., Sydney, Australia, and Medel, Innsbruck, Austria. The authors SKP and TR received travel support for lectures from Cochlear, Ltd, Australia, and Medel, Innsbruck, Austria (not related to this study). Copyright © 2017 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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Vestibular Outcome After Cochlear Implantation Is Not Related to Surgical Technique: A Double Blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial of Round Window Approach Versus Cochleostomy
Objective: To establish whether the round window approach (RWA) leads to less vestibular dysfunction and dizziness than the standard cochleostomy approach (SCA) during cochlear implant (CI) surgery, as assessed using the video head impulse test (vHIT). Additionally, objective findings were compared with the subjective dizziness perceived by the patient. Study Design: Double blinded, clinical randomized trial. Setting: University Hospital. Patients: Fifty-two ears from 46 patients were included. Inclusion criterion was a gain value more than 0.50. Intervention: Patients were randomized to the RWA or the SCA. Evaluation with the vHIT was performed before surgery, 1 day after surgery, and 1 month after surgery. Subjective dizziness was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI). Main Outcome Measures: Gain values and the incidence of catch-up saccades. Results: Three out of 23 patients in the SCA group experienced catch-up saccades compared with no patients in the RWA group, indicating the occurrence of objective vestibular dysfunction after CI surgery; the difference was not statistically significant. The VAS increased in both groups the day after surgery. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant. No statistically significant changes in the gain value or the DHI score could were observed between the two groups. Conclusion: No statistically significant difference between the cochleostomy approach and the round window approach using the vHIT and subjective dizziness perceived by the patient was found. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. http://ift.tt/OBJ4xP Address correspondence and reprint requests to Leise Elisabeth Hviid Korsager, M.D., Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark; E-mail: leise.e.hviid.korsager@rsyd.dk Source of Funding: The study is sponsored by The Oticon Foundation, MED-EL G.m.b.H and Danaflex a/s. The authors disclose no conflicts of interest. Copyright © 2017 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright © 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company
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A biophysical modelling platform of the cochlear nucleus and other auditory circuits: from channels to networks
Publication date: Available online 28 December 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Paul B. Manis, Luke Campagnola
Models of the auditory brainstem have been an invaluable tool for testing hypotheses about auditory information processing and for highlighting the most important gaps in the experimental literature. Due to the complexity of the auditory brainstem, and indeed most brain circuits, the dynamic behavior of the system may be difficult to predict without a detailed, biologically realistic computational model. Despite the sensitivity of models to their exact construction and parameters, most prior models of the cochlear nucleus have incorporated only a small subset of the known biological properties. This confounds the interpretation of modelling results and also limits the potential future uses of these models, which require a large effort to develop. To address these issues, we have developed a general purpose, biophysically detailed model of the cochlear nucleus for use both in testing hypotheses about cochlear nucleus function and also as an input to models of downstream auditory nuclei. The model implements conductance-based Hodgkin-Huxley representations of cells using a Python-based interface to the NEURON simulator. Our model incorporates most of the quantitatively characterized intrinsic cell properties, synaptic properties, and connectivity available in the literature, and also aims to reproduce the known response properties of the canonical cochlear nucleus cell types. Although we currently lack the empirical data to completely constrain this model, our intent is for the model to continue to incorporate new experimental results as they become available.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Paul B. Manis, Luke Campagnola
Models of the auditory brainstem have been an invaluable tool for testing hypotheses about auditory information processing and for highlighting the most important gaps in the experimental literature. Due to the complexity of the auditory brainstem, and indeed most brain circuits, the dynamic behavior of the system may be difficult to predict without a detailed, biologically realistic computational model. Despite the sensitivity of models to their exact construction and parameters, most prior models of the cochlear nucleus have incorporated only a small subset of the known biological properties. This confounds the interpretation of modelling results and also limits the potential future uses of these models, which require a large effort to develop. To address these issues, we have developed a general purpose, biophysically detailed model of the cochlear nucleus for use both in testing hypotheses about cochlear nucleus function and also as an input to models of downstream auditory nuclei. The model implements conductance-based Hodgkin-Huxley representations of cells using a Python-based interface to the NEURON simulator. Our model incorporates most of the quantitatively characterized intrinsic cell properties, synaptic properties, and connectivity available in the literature, and also aims to reproduce the known response properties of the canonical cochlear nucleus cell types. Although we currently lack the empirical data to completely constrain this model, our intent is for the model to continue to incorporate new experimental results as they become available.
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Auditory Sensory Gating Predicts Acceptable Noise Level
Publication date: Available online 28 December 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Sharon E. Miller, Kaci Wathen, Elizabeth Cash, Teresa Pitts, Lynzee Cornell
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Sharon E. Miller, Kaci Wathen, Elizabeth Cash, Teresa Pitts, Lynzee Cornell
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What Can Stimulus Polarity and Interphase Gap Tell Us About Auditory Nerve Function in Cochlear-Implant Recipients?
Publication date: Available online 28 December 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Michelle L. Hughes, Sangsook Choi, Erin Glickman
Modeling studies suggest that differences in neural responses between polarities might reflect underlying neural health. Specifically, large differences in electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP) amplitudes and amplitude-growth-function (AGF) slopes between polarities might reflect poorer peripheral neural health, whereas more similar eCAP responses between polarities might reflect better neural health. The interphase gap (IPG) has also been shown to relate to neural survival in animal studies. Specifically, healthy neurons exhibit larger eCAP amplitudes, lower thresholds, and steeper AGF slopes for increasing IPGs. In ears with poorer neural survival, these changes in neural responses are generally less apparent with increasing IPG. The primary goal of this study was to examine the combined effects of stimulus polarity and IPG within and across subjects to determine whether both measures represent similar underlying mechanisms related to neural health. With the exception of one measure in one group of subjects, results showed that polarity and IPG effects were generally not correlated in a systematic or predictable way. This suggests that these two effects might represent somewhat different aspects of neural health, such as differences in site of excitation versus integrative membrane characteristics, for example. Overall, the results from this study suggest that the underlying mechanisms that contribute to polarity and IPG effects in human CI recipients might be difficult to determine from animal models that do not exhibit the same anatomy, variance in etiology, electrode placement, and duration of deafness as humans.
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Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Michelle L. Hughes, Sangsook Choi, Erin Glickman
Modeling studies suggest that differences in neural responses between polarities might reflect underlying neural health. Specifically, large differences in electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP) amplitudes and amplitude-growth-function (AGF) slopes between polarities might reflect poorer peripheral neural health, whereas more similar eCAP responses between polarities might reflect better neural health. The interphase gap (IPG) has also been shown to relate to neural survival in animal studies. Specifically, healthy neurons exhibit larger eCAP amplitudes, lower thresholds, and steeper AGF slopes for increasing IPGs. In ears with poorer neural survival, these changes in neural responses are generally less apparent with increasing IPG. The primary goal of this study was to examine the combined effects of stimulus polarity and IPG within and across subjects to determine whether both measures represent similar underlying mechanisms related to neural health. With the exception of one measure in one group of subjects, results showed that polarity and IPG effects were generally not correlated in a systematic or predictable way. This suggests that these two effects might represent somewhat different aspects of neural health, such as differences in site of excitation versus integrative membrane characteristics, for example. Overall, the results from this study suggest that the underlying mechanisms that contribute to polarity and IPG effects in human CI recipients might be difficult to determine from animal models that do not exhibit the same anatomy, variance in etiology, electrode placement, and duration of deafness as humans.
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Single-ended prediction of listening effort using deep neural networks
Publication date: Available online 27 December 2017
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Rainer Huber, Melanie Krüger, Bernd T. Meyer
The effort required to listen to and understand noisy speech is an important factor in the evaluation of noise reduction schemes. This paper introduces a model for Listening Effort prediction from Acoustic Parameters (LEAP). The model is based on methods from automatic speech recognition, specifically on performance measures that quantify the degradation of phoneme posteriorgrams produced by a deep neural net: Noise or artefacts introduced by speech enhancement often result in a temporal smearing of phoneme representations, which is measured by comparison of phoneme vectors. This procedure does not require a priori knowledge about the processed speech, and is therefore single-ended. The proposed model was evaluated using three datasets of noisy speech signals with listening effort ratings obtained from normal hearing and hearing impaired subjects. The prediction quality was compared to several baseline models such as the ITU-T standard P.563 for single-ended speech quality assessment, the American National Standard ANIQUE+ for single-ended speech quality assessment, and a single-ended SNR estimator. In all three datasets, the proposed new model achieved clearly better prediction accuracies than the baseline models; correlations with subjective ratings were above 0.9. So far, the model is trained on the specific noise types used in the evaluation. Future work will be concerned with overcoming this limitation by training the model on a variety of different noise types in a multi-condition way in order to make it generalize to unknown noise types.
from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2zFy2iY
via IFTTT
Source:Hearing Research
Author(s): Rainer Huber, Melanie Krüger, Bernd T. Meyer
The effort required to listen to and understand noisy speech is an important factor in the evaluation of noise reduction schemes. This paper introduces a model for Listening Effort prediction from Acoustic Parameters (LEAP). The model is based on methods from automatic speech recognition, specifically on performance measures that quantify the degradation of phoneme posteriorgrams produced by a deep neural net: Noise or artefacts introduced by speech enhancement often result in a temporal smearing of phoneme representations, which is measured by comparison of phoneme vectors. This procedure does not require a priori knowledge about the processed speech, and is therefore single-ended. The proposed model was evaluated using three datasets of noisy speech signals with listening effort ratings obtained from normal hearing and hearing impaired subjects. The prediction quality was compared to several baseline models such as the ITU-T standard P.563 for single-ended speech quality assessment, the American National Standard ANIQUE+ for single-ended speech quality assessment, and a single-ended SNR estimator. In all three datasets, the proposed new model achieved clearly better prediction accuracies than the baseline models; correlations with subjective ratings were above 0.9. So far, the model is trained on the specific noise types used in the evaluation. Future work will be concerned with overcoming this limitation by training the model on a variety of different noise types in a multi-condition way in order to make it generalize to unknown noise types.
from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader http://ift.tt/2zFy2iY
via IFTTT
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